by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - Monday marked the first official day of business for the Department of Land Management following Saturday's consolidation with the Chamorro Land Trust Commission and the Guam Ancestral Lands Commission. New Land Management director Monte Mafnas says today was filled with meetings and phone calls, but nothing he couldn't handle.

He does say one of the major problems is scanning and indexing all of the documentation that has accumulated over the decades from all three departments. He adds that although Chamorro Land Trust was able to relocate completely, a lack of space has halted the Guam Ancestral Lands Commission from moving from their Tiyan office.

"Eventually," he explained, "Ancestral Lands Commission will relocate within the building, the biggest concern at this point in time is to address the needs of the heirs of the estate, they're up their in age and the accessibility is one grave concern."

The GALC, which has only three employees, will move in some time this month once accessibility to documents is resolved.